Space History Photo: Cernan Driving the Rover

The Apollo 17 mission commander checks out the rover prior to loadup. CREDIT: Harrison H. Schmitt. View full size image

In this historical photo from the U.S. space agency, Astronaut Eugene A. Cernan, Apollo 17 mission commander, makes a short checkout of the Lunar Roving Vehicle during the early part of the first Apollo 17 extravehicular activity (EVA-1) at the Taurus-Littrow landing site. This view of the "stripped down" Rover is prior to loadup.

This photograph was taken by Geologist-Astronaut Harrison H. Schmitt, Lunar Module pilot. The mountain in the right background is the East end of South Massif.

Each weekday, SPACE.com looks back at the history of spaceflight through photos (archive).